BJP Blames Congress for High Court Setback on BC Reservations

The controversy surrounding the 42 percent reservations for Backward Classes (BCs) in local body elections has escalated in Hyderabad, with N Ramchander Rao, the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), attributing the setback to the Congress government. On Thursday, he announced that the High Court had issued an interim order staying GO 9, which aimed to implement these reservations, following what he termed as negligence and inadequate legal preparation by the Congress administration.

During a press conference at the BJP’s state headquarters, Rao emphasized the need for immediate action, urging the state to approach the Supreme Court to protect the interests of BCs. He called for the rectification of legal missteps that contributed to the court’s decision. His comments highlighted a sense of urgency in addressing the legal challenges surrounding the reservations, which have become a contentious political issue in recent weeks.

Rao criticized the government’s timing in issuing the local body election notification, which he claimed occurred before the completion of the mandatory three-month period for the Governor’s review of the Bill passed by the Assembly on August 31, 2023. He described this action as “illegal and politically motivated,” arguing that it disregarded the Supreme Court’s directive that the Governor must make a decision within the stipulated timeframe.

In his statements, Rao accused the Congress party of exploiting the situation, asserting that they were jeopardizing the interests of BCs for short-term political gains. He countered allegations from Congress that the BJP was obstructing the implementation of these reservations, describing such claims as deliberate misinformation. “The BJP has always stood by the cause of BCs,” he stated, referencing the party’s ongoing efforts in the Supreme Court for 57 percent BC reservations in Madhya Pradesh as evidence of their commitment to social justice.

Rao elaborated on what he termed the Congress government’s legal inadequacies, suggesting that they had failed to conduct due diligence in bringing the Bill forward and issuing related declarations. He contended that the actions taken in relation to amending ordinances and releasing the election notification were “legally untenable.” Furthermore, he alleged that some of the petitions filed against the 42 percent BC quota in the High Court originated from Congress members, which he claimed revealed the party’s contradictory stance on the matter.

In a parallel development, Dharmapuri Arvind, a Member of Parliament representing Nizamabad, criticized the Congress government’s handling of the BC reservation issue. He accused Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of deceiving the Backward Communities, stating that the government’s inefficiency has led to a pattern of creating distractions to cover up its failures. “This government is not able to provide good governance,” Arvind remarked, adding that the focus on the BC quota was merely a tactic to divert attention from the administration’s shortcomings.

The ongoing dispute over BC reservations highlights the complexities of political maneuvering in Telangana, with implications for both governance and community representation. As the situation unfolds, the BJP’s calls for legal action and accountability from the Congress government continue to resonate within the political landscape.